Every legend needs an anti-hero

Once upon a time, sheep existed in a variety of natural colours, from the cream colour we know so well through various shades of beige, brown, and black. Yet with time, mankind wilfully bred the darker-hued sheep out, leaving them to become a rare sight. Where most farmers looked away, one fell madly in love. Her name is Fiona Gardner, and she knew there was something refined about the wool. She went on to source far and wide, lending her flock of Merino sheep the genetic advantage of hybrid vigour so that each generation was able to produce a higher quality fibre. Once content with the fibre quality, she searched for someone who would understand its rarity and reveal its particular beauty as they transformed it into clothing. That someone was Pier Luigi Loro Piana, bringing the Maison’s masterful way with fibres with him. And so, Pecora Nera® was born.

The beginning of a special bond

Pier Luigi Loro Piana met Fiona in the late 1990s and was fascinated by the allure and rarity of the naturally dark wool. They forged a long-lasting relationship to develop Pecora Nera® into the wide range of unexpected and nuanced natural hues we have today – fusing Fiona’s breeding prowess with Loro Piana’s legacy in fibre excellence. This unique bond also means the wool is completely traceable, from farm to finished piece.

A story of originality

Loro Piana is a proud purveyor of Pecora Nera®, not just for the exquisiteness of the fibre, but for what the fibre represents. Woven in this wool is a story of originality, of embracing the beauty in the margins, and the quiet power of those who dare to be different.

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A unique flock

Rich and resonant, this is wool that calls for no dye, which also serves to protect the integrity of the fibre in its natural state. From beige, grey, and brown to deep black, the different coloured yarns marry together beautifully, lending themselves to the most intricate patterns.